Paul Vallely: Army Follows Protocol on Bergdahl

The decision to return Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to "regular duty'' may seem an unnecessary security risk to some, but it's strictly a case of the military following protocol, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely tells Newsmax TV.

"This is set up under the Uniform Code of Military Justice . . . and is being handled by the book as far as I can see,'' Vallely said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."

On May 31, Bergdahl, who had been held captive for five years by the Taliban in Afghanistan, was released after the United States swapped him for five high-ranking terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

But controversy swirled around the trade after allegations by Bergdahl's fellow soldiers that he had deserted his post and had possibly joined the Taliban of his own free will. An investigation is being conducted.

"It has to be established that he in fact is guilty perhaps of desertion and treason, and so they'll pursue that in the investigation . . . That's why he has to be reassigned to a unit,'' said Vallely, founder of the patriotic think tank Stand Up America.

"He will be closely guarded because he would be a potential target physically from the other soldiers if they . . . were convinced he was a deserter.''

"We hope our established military leaders . . . will firmly go by the book, go by what's outlined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and that we find out the truth again.''

The decision to return Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to "regular duty'' may seem an unnecessary security risk to some, but it's strictly a case of the military following protocol, retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely tells Newsmax TV.